There are some things in an organization that cannot be measured or assigned a price; culture is one of them. Our organization’s culture is rooted in values shaped by a simple rural upbringing. That background taught me many lessons about hard work, being trustworthy, considerate, thankful, and dependable all traits and values that we aim to instill into our company’s day-to-day culture. 

Our culture is not defined by wall plagues or catchy slogans but reflected in how we aspire to live through giving, serving, and sharing. These values show through how we seek to treat our team members, customers, partners, and one another as we pursue excellence together. At Choice Solutions, we use our five core values of Vision, Service, Family, Greatness, and a Farmer’s Mentality as our True North.

A clear and compelling vision, supported by our WIGs (Wildly Important Goals), is fundamental to our success. This vision goes beyond products, services, profits, or growth; it connects our purpose to the ways we impact lives and make a difference. As leaders, we must clearly articulate why our organization exists and how our work serves others in a meaningful way. This vision provides direction during times of uncertainty and keeps our teams aligned around something greater than themselves. It helps team members see their roles as meaningful contributions rather than routine tasks. When team members understand the “why” and the WIGs, they become more engaged, resilient, and committed to long-term impact rather than short-term results.

Service is at the heart of our culture and shapes how leaders and team members work together. Our service-oriented culture inspires us to coach our leaders to enthusiastically work both with and alongside team members by setting examples, engaging in listening, removing obstacles, and investing in the growth of team members so they can reach their greatness. It incorporates supporting both personal and professional development through ongoing goal setting and creating opportunities. When service becomes a core value of an organization, it nurtures humility, understanding, and trust. Team members supporting one another creates a workplace that becomes less about competition and more about collaboration. A positive culture creates success and happiness that strengthens both morale and relationships, which results in exceptional service delivery.

Living out the value of Family emphasizes belonging, commitment, and mutual support. Although we are not biologically related, we strive to create a culture of care, loyalty, encouragement, accountability, and togetherness for all. Activities that involve significant others and children help foster a sense of closeness amongst the team. Celebrating achievements together, supporting one another through challenges, and ensuring every team member feels respected are key to this value. Another way to show thankfulness and appreciation to the team is by recognizing successful WIG achievements with memorable experiences including providing opportunities of traveling to fun places and including the team’s family members. A strong, family-oriented culture reduces turnover, builds trust, and creates a workplace where team members desire to engage and help serve each other, customers, partners and community.

Greatness reflects the divine potential instilled in everyone to make a meaningful difference through the talents given to us. It is not about ego or recognition, but about striving for excellence with the talents we have been given. It means giving our best and holding ourselves accountable to our team, organization, and customers in a fair and positive way. Encouraging greatness involves setting high expectations, providing the necessary tools and training, and recognizing both effort and growth. When greatness is pursued with humility, excellence it becomes the standard. The result is team members are motivated to grow, innovate, and take ownership of their work, knowing that their contributions make a difference.

The final (and my favorite) value is a Farmer’s Mentality. This value reflects the importance of hard work, generosity, patience, care, trust, and selfless commitment to one another. It is the “roll up your sleeves and get the job done” mindset, where titles and egos are set aside in pursuit of a common goal. Our team consistently brings this value to life. Just as on a farm where seeds are planted, soil is cultivated, weeds are removed, and growth takes time, building a strong culture requires patience and persistence. As leaders, we must invest daily through encouragement, thoughtful decisions, and consistent actions that reflect what it means to do the right thing. Like crops growing in a field, cultural growth may be gradual, but with regular cultivation and care it produces an abundant harvest. This expectation helps team members stay focused on long-term outcomes rather than quick fixes, reinforcing our divine beliefs that while we are responsible for the work, the results will come in due time.

Our five core values define the spirit of our culture centered on serving and supporting our team members, customers, partners, and community with greatness. These values are not in what we say, but in how we live and work each day as we strive for excellence together.